Frequency dividing systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for producing a frequency divider output signal having a period substantially equal to three times a period of a reference input signal, comprising configuring each of three storage elements to receive a first input, a second input, and a reference input signal, and to provide a storage element output, obtaining a frequency divider output signal from at least one storage element output, and using the storage element output from each of the three storage elements as an input to another one of the three storage elements, where a phase difference between the output of the first storage element and the output of the second storage element is substantially equal to 60°.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. utility applicationentitled, “Frequency Divider with Low Harmonics,” having Ser. No.09/821,833, filed on Mar. 30, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part ofcopending U.S. utility application entitled “Programmable FrequencyDivider,” Ser. No. 09/370,099, filed on Aug. 6, 1999, both of which areincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to wireless transmitters and receivers and, moreparticularly, to frequency dividers.

2. Related Art

Harmonics contained in signal processing devices are a major cause ofsignal distortions. One case where harmonics can be especiallyproblematic is in a limiter that is driven by a poly-phase filter. Forexample, standard 90° poly-phase outputs take the form of:0° output=input/(1+jwRC)90° output=input*(jwRC)/(1+jwRC)Based on this property, harmonic components in the output will beamplitude mismatched and will be phase shifted from the fundamentalfrequency. Therefore, the presence of harmonics at the input of apoly-phase filter can cause a shift in the zero-crossings at the outputof the poly-phase filter. This shift can, in turn, cause an effectivephase error when the output of the poly-phase filter is passed through alimiter that reacts primarily to zero crossings.

A second case where harmonics can cause signal distortions is in mixers.The presence of harmonics in a mixer input signal can result inodd-order mixing products (“OMPs”) in the mixer's output. An OMP, whichis defined as the product of one input and an odd harmonic of anotherinput, can cause signal distortions when its frequency is too close tothe frequency of a desired mixer output signal. Other cases whereharmonics can cause signal distortions include, for example, whereunwanted harmonics couple across a circuit.

Therefore, there exists a need for signal processing systems that havereduced harmonic content.

SUMMARY

In one system embodiment of the invention, a signal processing systemconfigured to produce a divider output signal having a periodsubstantially equal to three times a period of a reference input signalis disclosed, the signal processing system comprising a first storageelement, a second storage element, and a third storage element, whereeach of the three storage elements is configured to receive a firstinput, a second input, and a reference input signal, and is configuredto provide a storage element output, where the divider output signal isobtained from at least one storage element output, and where the storageelement output from each of the three storage elements is used toprovide at least one input to another one of the three storage elements,where a phase difference between the output of the first storage elementand the output of the second storage element is substantially equal to60°.

In one method embodiment of the invention, a method for producing afrequency divider output signal having a period substantially equal tothree times a period of a reference input signal is disclosed,comprising configuring each of three storage elements to receive a firstinput, a second input, and a reference input signal, and to provide astorage element output, obtaining a frequency divider output signal fromat least one storage element output, and using the storage elementoutput from each of the three storage elements as an input to anotherone of the three storage elements, where a phase difference between theoutput of the first storage element and the output of the second storageelement is substantially equal to 60°

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will beor will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following figures and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features and advantages be includedwithin this description, be within the scope of the invention, and beprotected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of asimplified portable transceiver.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide bytwo” frequency divider.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide bythree” frequency divider.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide by N”frequency divider.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a“divide by three” frequency divider.

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrating frequency.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a low harmonics frequency division system.

FIG. 8 is an example timing diagram illustrating the addition offrequency divider outputs.

FIG. 9 is a phase diagram illustrating a non-limiting example ofthird-order harmonics cancellation by the low harmonics frequencydivision system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one possible configuration of aclock phase module that can be used in a storage element of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating one possible configuration of astorage element of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a simplified timing diagram illustrating the operation ofstorage element as part of a “divide by three” frequency divider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of asimplified portable transceiver 100 in which an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented. Portable transceiver 100 includes speaker102, display 104, keyboard 106, and microphone 108, all connected tobaseband subsystem 110. In a particular embodiment, portable transceiver100 can be, for example, but not limited to, a portabletelecommunication handset such as a mobile cellular-type telephone.Speaker 102 and display 104 receive signals from baseband subsystem 110via connections 105 and 107, respectively. Similarly, keyboard 106 andmicrophone 108 supply signals to baseband subsystem 110 via connections111 and 113, respectively. Baseband subsystem 110 includesmicroprocessor (μP) 112, memory 114, analog circuitry 116, and digitalsignal processor (DSP) 118, each coupled to a data bus 122. Examples ofcommercially available processors include, but are not limited to, anARM processor such as an ARM 7 or ARM 9 processor, a ZSP Core suppliedby LSI Logic or a Teak processor supplied by DSP Group. Data bus 122,although shown as a single bus, may be implemented using multiple bussesconnected as necessary among the subsystems within baseband subsystem110. Microprocessor 112 and memory 114 provide signal timing, processingand storage functions for portable transceiver 100. Analog circuitry 116provides the analog processing functions for the signals within basebandsubsystem 110. Baseband subsystem 110 provides control signals to radiofrequency (RF) subsystem 134 via connection 128. Although shown as asingle connection 128, the control signals may originate from DSP 118 orfrom microprocessor 112, and may be supplied to a variety of pointswithin RF subsystem 134. It should be noted that, for simplicity, onlyselected components of a portable transceiver 100 are illustrated inFIG. 1.

Baseband subsystem 110 also includes analog-to-digital converter (ADC)124 and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 126, 130 and 132. ADC 124,DAC 126, DAC 130 and DAC 132 communicate with microprocessor 112, memory114, analog circuitry 116 and DSP 118 via data bus 122. DAC 126 convertsdigital communication information within baseband subsystem 110 into ananalog signal for transmission to RF subsystem 134 via connection 142.In accordance with an aspect of the invention, DAC 130 provides areference voltage power level signal to power control element 152 viaconnection 120 and DAC 132 provides an amplitude modulated (AM) signalto power control element 152 via connection 160. Alternatively,circuitry (not shown) could be placed in power control element 152 toderive the AM signal based on the output of DAC 126 received viaconnection 142. Connection 142, while shown as two directed arrows,includes the information that is to be transmitted by RF subsystem 134after conversion from the digital domain to the analog domain.

RF subsystem 134 includes modulator 144, which, after receiving an LOsignal from synthesizer 168 via connection 146, modulates the receivedanalog information and provides a modulated signal via connection 148 toupconverter 150. Upconverter 150 also receives a frequency referencesignal from synthesizer 168 via connection 170. Synthesizer 168determines the appropriate frequency to which upconverter 150 willupconvert the modulated signal on connection 148.

Upconverter 150 supplies a phase-modulated signal via connection 156 topower amplifier 158. Power amplifier 158 amplifies the modulated signalon connection 156 to the appropriate power level for transmission viaconnection 164 to antenna 174. Illustratively, switch 176 controlswhether the amplified signal on connection 164 is transferred to antenna174 or whether a received signal from antenna 174 is supplied to filter178. The operation of switch 176 is controlled by a control signal frombaseband subsystem 110 via connection 128. Alternatively, the switch 176may be replaced with circuitry to enable the simultaneous transmissionand reception of signals to and from antenna 174.

A portion of the amplified transmit signal energy on connection 164 issupplied via connection 166 to power control element 152. Power controlelement 152 forms a closed power control feedback loop and supplies anAM component of the transmit signal via connection 162 to poweramplifier 158 and also supplies a power control feedback signal viaconnection 154 to upconverter 150.

A signal received by antenna 174 will, at the appropriate timedetermined by baseband system 110, be directed via switch 176 to areceive filter 178. Receive filter 178 filters the received signal andsupplies the filtered signal on connection 180 to low noise amplifier(LNA) 182. Receive filter 178 is a bandpass filter, which passes allchannels of the particular cellular system in which the portabletransceiver 100 is operating. As an example, for a Global System ForMobile Communications (GSM) 900 MHz system, receive filter 178 wouldpass all frequencies from 935.1 MHz to 959.9 MHz, covering all 124contiguous channels of 200 kHz each. The purpose of this filter is toreject all frequencies outside the desired region. LNA 182 amplifies theweak signal on connection 180 to a level at which downconverter 186 cantranslate the signal from the transmitted frequency back to a basebandfrequency. Alternatively, the functionality of LNA 182 and downconverter186 can be accomplished using other elements, such as for example butnot limited to, a low noise block downconverter (LNB).

Downconverter 186 receives an LO signal from synthesizer 168, viaconnection 172. The LO signal is used in the downconverter 186 todownconvert the signal received from LNA 182 via connection 184. Thedownconverted frequency is called the intermediate frequency (“IF”).Downconverter 186 sends the downconverted signal via connection 190 tochannel filter 192, also called the “IF filter.” Channel filter 192filters the downconverted signal and supplies it via connection 194 todemodulator 196. The channel filter 192 selects one desired channel andrejects all others. Using the GSM system as an example, only one of the124 contiguous channels would be selected by channel filter 192. Thesynthesizer 168, by controlling the local oscillator frequency suppliedon connection 172 to downconverter 186, determines the selected channel.Demodulator 196 recovers the transmitted analog information and suppliesa signal representing this information via connection 197 to amplifier198. Amplifier 198 amplifies the signal received via connection 197 andsupplies an amplified signal via connection 199 to ADC 124. ADC 124converts these analog signals to a digital signal at baseband frequencyand transfers it via data bus 122 to DSP 118 for further processing.Although, for illustration purposes, the invention is described belowwith respect to portable transceiver 100, it should be noted that theinvention may also be implemented in any wireless communication systemthat uses one or more mixers.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide bytwo” frequency divider 200 of the invention. The frequency divider 200includes two storage elements 202 and 204. Storage elements 202 and 204are configured to receive inputs D₁ 206 and D₂ 208 respectively, inputsφ₁ 210 and φ₂ 212 respectively, and a reference signal input (“CLK”)214. In one embodiment, CLK 214 is an LO signal. The storage elements202 and 204 also provide outputs Q₁ 218 and Q₂ 220 and respectively. Thefrequency of each of the outputs Q₁ 218 and Q₂ 220 is equal to half ofthe frequency of CLK 214.

The storage elements 202 and 204 are interconnected as follows: Q₁ 218is connected to D₂ 208, Q₂ 220 is connected through inverter 222 to D₁206 and φ₁ 210, and Q₁ 218 is connected through inverter 224 to φ₂ 212.Furthermore, in some embodiments, the relationships between the inputsand outputs of each of the storage elements 202 and 204 are defined inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Truth Table For A Frequency Divider Storage Element CLK(t) D(t)Q(t) Phi(t) Q(t + 1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 01 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 10 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

The states “1” and “0” in Table 1 are commonly referred to as “high” and“low” states, respectively, and are typically represented bydistinguishable voltage levels such as, for example, “positive” and“negative” voltages, or “higher” and “lower” voltages. The relationshipsbetween the inputs and outputs of each of the storage elements 202 and204 may also be described by the following logic equation:/Q _(N+1) =/D(/φ/CLK+φCLK)+/Q _(N)(/φCLK+φ/CLK)(where a slash (“/”) means “inverse of” such that /φ, for example, isthe inverse of φ, and where the subscript “_(N)” refers to a currentstate and the subscript “_(N+1)” refers to the state that is immediatelyfollowing the current state).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide bythree” frequency divider 300 of the invention. The frequency divider 300includes three storage elements 302, 304 and 306. Storage element 302 isconfigured to receive inputs D₁ 308, φ₁ 314, and CLK 320 and to provideoutput Q₁ 326. Storage element 304 is configured to receive inputs D₂310, φ₂ 316, and CLK 320, and to provide output Q₂ 328. Storage element306 is configured to receive inputs D₃ 312, φ₃ 318, and CLK 320, and toprovide output Q₃ 330. Storage elements 302, 304, and 306 areinterconnected as follows: Q₁ 326 is connected to D₂ 310 and φ₃ 318, Q₃330 is connected via inverter 334 to D₁ 308, Q₂ 328 is connected to D₃312, and Q₂ 328 is connected via inverter 332 to φ₁ 314. Furthermore, inone implementation, storage elements 302, 304, and 306 are configured tobehave in accordance with the logic relationships shown in Table 1above.

The frequency of each of the outputs Q₁ 326, Q₂ 328, and Q₃ 330, has afrequency equal to one third of the frequency of the clock signal input.Two of the outputs Q₁ 326, Q₂ 328, and Q₃ 330 may be combined to producea system output having substantially no third-order harmonics, as willbe explained further below. In the example shown in FIG. 3, Q₁ 326 andQ₂ 328 are combined via combining element 340 to produce low harmonicsoutput 342. Combining element 340 may be, for example, a combiner, anadder, or merely a node that sums currents.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a “divide by N”frequency divider 400 of the invention. The frequency divider 400includes N storage elements including a first storage element 402, asecond storage element 404, an N^(th) storage element 406, and one ormore additional storage elements (not shown). Storage element 402 isconfigured to receive inputs D₁ 408, φ₁ 414, and CLK 420 and to provideoutput Q₁ 426. Storage element 404 is configured to receive inputs D₂410, φ₂ 416, and CLK 420, and to provide output Q₂ 428. Storage element406 is configured to receive inputs D_(N) 412, φ_(N) 418, and CLK 420,and to provide output Q_(N) 430. Each of the output signals Q₁ 426, Q₂428, and Q_(N) 430, has a frequency equal to the frequency of the clocksignal input divided by the number of interconnected storage elements N.Storage elements 402, 404, and 406 are interconnected as follows:

-   -   Q_(k) is connected to D_(k−1)    -   Q₁ is connected to /D_(N)    -   D_(k) is connected to Q_(k−1) for k=2 to N    -   φ_(k) is connected to /Q_(k+1) for odd k less than N    -   φ_(k) is connected to Q_(k+1) for even k less than N    -   φ_(N) is connected to Q₁ for N=odd integer    -   φ_(N) is connected to /Q₁ for N=even integer        (where k is an integer assigned to a storage element based on        its location in the sequence of N storage elements). In one        implementation, storage elements 402, 404, and 406 are        configured to behave in accordance with the logic relationships        shown in Table 1. Note that since the storage elements are        effectively connected in a loop, all connection specifications        for even numbered elements and odd numbered elements can be        interchanged without a loss in functionality.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a“divide by three” frequency divider of the invention. Frequency divider500 includes three storage elements 502, 504 and 506 that are configuredas follows: storage element 502 is configured to receive inputs D₁ 522,/D₁ 524, φ₁ 526, /φ₁ 528, CLK 530, and /CLK 532, and to provide outputsQ₁ 534 and /Q₁ 536; storage element 504 is configured to receive inputsD₂ 542, /D₂ 544, φ₂ 546, /φ₂ 548, CLK 530, and /CLK 532, and to provideoutputs Q₂ 550 and /Q₂ 552; and storage element 506 is configured toreceive inputs D₃ 562, /D₃ 564, φ₃ 566, /φ₃ 568, CLK 530, and /CLK 532,and to provide outputs Q₃ 570 and /Q₃ 572.

Storage elements 502, 504, and 506 are interconnected as follows: Q₁ 534is connected to D₂ 542 and φ₃ 566, /Q₃ 572 is connected to D₁ 522 and to/φ₂ 548, Q₂ 550 is connected to D₃ 562 and /φ₁ 528, /Q₁ 536 is connectedto /D₂ 544 and /φ₃ 568, Q₃ 570 is connected to /D₁ 524 and φ₂ 546, and/Q₂ 552 is connected to /D₃ 564 and φ₁ 526. In one implementation,storage elements 502, 504, and 506 are configured to behave inaccordance with the logic properties shown in Table 1.

The frequency of each of the outputs signals Q₁ 534, Q₂ 550, Q₃ 570, /Q₁536, /Q₂ 552, and /Q₃ 572, has a frequency equal to one third of thefrequency of CLK 530. In one implementation, two of the outputs Q₁ 534,Q₂ 550, Q₃ 570, /Q₁ 536, /Q₂ 552, and /Q₃ 572 may be combined to producea system output having substantially no third-order harmonics, as willbe explained further below. In the example shown in FIG. 5, /Q₁ 536 and/Q₂ 552 are combined via combining element 580 to produce low harmonicsoutput 582. Combining element 580 may be, for example, a combiner, anadder, or merely a node that sums currents.

Each of the frequency dividers described above may be implemented in anyradio frequency (RF) transmitter or receiver that uses frequencydivision. As a non-limiting example, a frequency divider of theinvention may be used in synthesizer 168, modulator 144, demodulator196, upconverter 150, and/or downconverter 186 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram 600 illustrating frequency division of anembodiment of the invention, such as, for example, frequency divider 500(FIG. 5), or frequency divider 300 (FIG. 3). The timing diagramillustrates four signals: an input reference signal 602, a first storageelement output (Q₁) 604, a second storage element output (Q₂) 606, and athird storage element output (Q₃) 608. Outputs Q₁ 604, Q₂ 606, and Q₃608 may correspond, for example, to storage element outputs Q₁ 326, Q₂328 and Q₃ 330, respectively (FIG. 3) while the input reference signal602 may correspond, for example, to CLK 320 (FIG. 3). Each of theoutputs (Q₁ 604, Q₂ 606, and Q₃ 608) has a frequency equal to one thirdof the frequency of the input reference signal 602. As shown in thetiming diagram 600, Q₂ 606 lags Q₁ 604 by ⅙ of a cycle and Q₃ 608 lagsQ₂ 606 by ⅙ of a cycle. It should be noted that, in this example, eachof the outputs has a 50% duty cycle. In general, however, the duty cycleof an output signal will be equal to about 33% plus ⅓ of the duty cycleof an input signal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a low harmonics frequency division system700. The low harmonics frequency division system 700 includes a “divideby three” circuit 704. The “divide by three” circuit 704 may correspond,for example, to frequency divider 500 (FIG. 5), or frequency divider 300(FIG. 3). The divide by three circuit 704 receives an input 702 andproduces signals Q_(x) 706, Q_(y) 708, and Q_(z) (not shown). Q_(x) 706and Q_(y) 708 are then combined at combining element 710 to provide asystem output 712 having substantially no third-order harmonics.Combining element 710 may be a combiner, an adder, or merely a node thatsums Q_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708.

If, for example, the divide by three circuit used is frequency divider500 (FIG. 5), then Q_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708 may correspond, for example,to one of the following pairs of storage element outputs: Q₁ 534 & Q₂550, /Q₁ 536 & /Q₂ 552, Q₂ 550 & Q₃ 570, or /Q₂ 552 & /Q₃ 572. If, onthe other hand, the divide by three circuit used is frequency divider300 (FIG. 3), then Q_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708 may correspond, for example,to storage element output pairs Q₁ 326 & Q₂ 328, or Q₂ 328 & Q₃ 330.

FIG. 8 is an example timing diagram 800 illustrating the addition ofQ_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708 shown in FIG. 7 to produce system output 712. Inthis example, Q_(y) 708 lags Q_(x) 706 by ⅙ of a cycle. As shown intiming diagram 800, system output 712 is a step-shaped signal that hasthe same frequency as Q_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708. Furthermore, although notreadily apparent from diagram 800, system output 712 containssubstantially no third-order harmonics.

Since Q_(y) 708 lags Q_(x) 706 by ⅙ of a cycle (or 60°), each of the oddharmonics of output 708 will lag a corresponding odd harmonic of output706 by “n” times 60°, where “n” is the harmonic number; for example, thethird harmonic of Q_(y) 708 will lag the third harmonic of Q_(x) 706 by180°. Therefore, by adding Q_(x) 706 and Q_(y) 708, the resulting systemoutput 712 may have substantially no third-order harmonics.

FIG. 9 is a phase diagrams 900 illustrating a non-limiting example ofthird-order harmonics cancellation by low harmonics frequency divisionsystem 700. Phase diagram 900 includes a “real” axis 902 and an“imaginary” axis 904. Third harmonic components 906 and 908 arecontained in signals 706 and 708, respectively (FIG. 7). Components 906and 908 have the same magnitude but are 180° out of phase. Therefore, bycombining signals 706 and 708, third harmonic components 906 and 908,respectively, can effectively cancel each other. Although, forillustration purposes, harmonic components 906 and 908 are shown to havephase angles of 90° and 270°, respectively, the phase angles may in facthave any respective values that are substantially 180° apart.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one possible configuration of aclock phase module 1000. Two differential pairs of NPN bipolartransistors are provided. The first pair includes transistors 1002 and1004, and the second pair includes transistors 1018 and 1020. Theemitter of transistor 1002 is coupled to the emitter of transistor 1004,and the emitter of transistor 1018 is coupled to the emitter oftransistor 1020. The emitters of transistors 1002 and 1004 are coupledto the collector of transistor 1005, and the emitters of transistors1018 and 1020 are coupled to the collector of transistor 1007. Aconnection 1006 containing a first clock signal (“CLK”) is connected tothe base of transistor 1005, and a connection 1008 containing a secondclock signal (“/CLK”) is connected to the base of transistor 1007 (where/CLK is the inverse of CLK).

The bases of transistors 1002 and 1020 are coupled together and to aconnection 1012 that contains an incoming signal φ. In addition, thebases of transistors 1004 and 1018 are coupled together and to aconnection 1010 containing an incoming signal /φ (where /φ is theinverse of φ). The collectors of transistors 1002 and 1018 are coupledtogether, and to an output connection 1014 containing an output signalD-CLK. The collectors of transistors 1004 and 1020 are also coupledtogether, and to an output connection 1016 containing an output signalQ-CLK (where Q-CLK is the inverse D-CLK).

CLK and /CLK represent a differential pair of input clock signals, φ and/φ represent a differential pair of phase control signals, and Q-CLK andD-CLK represent a differential pair of output clock signals. When φ ishigh and /φ is low, transistors 1002 and 1020 are active and transistors1004 and 1018 are inactive. As a result, CLK is passed throughtransistors 1005 and 1002 to connection 1014 to form output clock signalD-CLK, and /CLK is passed through transistors 1007 and 1020 toconnection 1016 to form output Q-CLK. Conversely, when φ is low and /φis high, transistors 1004 and 1018 are active and transistors 1002 and1020 are inactive. As a result, CLK is passed through transistors 1005and 1004 to connection 1016 to form output signal Q-CLK, and input /CLKis passed through transistors 1007 and 1018 to connection 1014 to formoutput D-CLK.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating one possible configuration of astorage element 1100 of the invention. Storage element 1100 maycorrespond, for example, to each of the storage elements 502, 504, and506 shown in FIG. 5. Storage element 1100 includes a first differentialpair of NPN bipolar transistors 1104 and 1106, a second differentialpair of NPN bipolar transistors 1116 and 1118, and a clock phase module1000.

The emitters of transistors 1104 and 1106 are coupled together and toconnection 1014 containing the clock phase module output D-CLK. Thecollector of transistor 1104 is connected to V_(cc) through resistor1132, and the collector of transistor 1106 is connected to V_(cc)through resistor 1134. An input signal D, is provided to the base oftransistor 1104 via connection 1108, and the an input signal /D isprovided to the base of transistor 1106 via connection 1110.

The emitters of transistors 1116 and 1118 are coupled together and toconnection 1016 containing the clock phase module output Q-CLK. Thecollector of transistor 1116 is coupled to the collector of transistor1106 and to the base of transistor 1118. The collector of transistor1118 is coupled to the collector of transistor 1104, and to the base oftransistor 1116.

When D-CLK goes high and Q-CLK goes low, transistors 1104 and 1106become active, and transistors 1116 and 1118 become inactive. Under thiscondition, transistors 1104 and 1106 will “read” the states of D and /Dfrom connections 1108 and 1110 respectively. Conversely, when Q-CLK goeshigh, and D-CLK goes low, transistors 1104 and 1106 become inactive, andtransistors 1116 and 1118 become active. Under this condition,transistors 1116 and 1118 will “write” the states of D and /D (that wereread immediately prior to the change in Q-CLK and D-CLK) ontoconnections 1122 and 1124 as outputs Q and /Q respectively.

With continued reference to FIG. 11, FIG. 12 is a simplified timingdiagram 1200 illustrating the operation of storage element 1100 as partof a “divide by three” frequency divider, such as, for example,frequency divider 500 (FIG. 5). For illustration purposes, timingdiagram 1200 does not show gradual transitions between states and doesnot show all possible inputs and outputs. The timing diagram 1200 showsthe following signals: CLK 1202, /CLK 1204, φ 1206, D-CLK 1208, Q-CLK1210, D 1212, and Q 1214. These signals (1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210,1212, and 1214) may correspond, for example, to the signals carried byconnections 1006, 1008, 1012, 1014, 1016, 1108, and 1122, respectively.

CLK 1202, /CLK 1204, φ 1206, and D 1212 are input signals; D-CLK 1208and Q-CLK 1210 are internal storage element signals that are based oninput signals 1202, 1204, and 1206; and Q 1214 is an output signal thatis based on the input D 1212 and the internal signals D-CLK 1208 andQ-CLK 1210. The state of D-CLK 1208 is substantially equivalent to thestate of CLK 1202 when φ 1206 is high (for example, between t₀ and t₃),and is substantially equivalent to the state of /CLK 1204 when φ 1206 islow (for example, between t₃ and t₆). Q-CLK 1210 is effectively theinverse of D-CLK. Therefore, the state of D-CLK 1208 is substantiallyequivalent to the state of /CLK 1204 when φ 1206 is high (for example,between t₀ and t₃), and is substantially equivalent to the state of CLK1202 when φ 1206 is low (for example, between t₃ and t₆).

During a time interval when the state of D-CLK 1208 is high (forexample, between t₁ and t₂), the value of D 1212 is “read” by storageelement 1100. Subsequently, when the value of Q-CLK 1210 goes high (forexample, at time t₂), the value of D 1212 that was read when the stateof D-CLK 1208 was high is written as the output Q 1214. The value of Qthen remains unchanged until Q-CLK 1210 goes high again (for example, attime t₅). As a result, the frequency of the output Q 1214 will be equalto one third of the frequency of the input CLK 1202.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention.

1. A signal processing system configured to produce a divider outputsignal having a period substantially equal to three times a period of areference input signal, the signal processing system comprising: a firststorage element; a second storage element; and a third storage element,where each of the three storage elements is configured to receive afirst input, a second input, and a reference input signal, and isconfigured to provide a storage element output and a frequency of eachoutput of the three storage elements has a frequency equal to one thirdof a frequency of the reference input signal, where the divider outputsignal is obtained from at least one storage element output, and wherethe divider output signal is obtained by combining only two of the threestorage element outputs by adding or summing the two storage elementoutputs together, and where the storage element output from each of thethree storage elements is used to provide at least one input to anotherone of the three storage elements, where a phase difference between theoutput of the first storage element and the output of the second storageelement is substantially equal to 60°.
 2. The signal processing systemof claim 1, where each of the three storage elements comprises aplurality of transistors.
 3. The signal processing system of claim 2,where with respect to each of the three storage elements, a state of thefirst input is stored in the storage element at a first point in time.4. The signal processing system of claim 3, where a state of the storageelement output at a second point in time subsequent to the first pointin time is equal to the state of the first input stored in the storageelement at the first point in time.
 5. The signal processing system ofclaim 1, where a phase difference between a third harmonic componentcontained in the first storage element output and a third harmoniccomponent contained in the second storage element output issubstantially 180°.
 6. The signal processing system of claim 5, wherethe third harmonic component contained in the first storage elementoutput cancels out the third harmonic component contained in the secondstorage element output.
 7. The signal processing system of claim 1,where the divider output signal has a duty cycle substantially equal to50%.
 8. The signal processing system of claim 1, where the referenceinput signal is a local oscillator signal.
 9. The signal processingsystem of claim 1, where the signal processing system is a frequencydivider.
 10. The signal processing system of claim 1, where the signalprocessing system is implemented in a mobile communications device. 11.A method for producing a frequency divider output signal having a periodsubstantially equal to three times a period of a reference input signal,comprising: configuring each of three storage elements to receive afirst input, a second input, and a reference input signal, and toprovide a storage element output, wherein a frequency of each output ofthe three storage elements has a frequency equal to one third of afrequency of the reference input signal; obtaining a frequency divideroutput signal from at least one storage element output, where thefrequency divider output signal is obtained by combining only two of thethree storage element outputs by adding or summing the two storageelement outputs together; and using the storage element output from eachof the three storage elements as an input to another one of the threestorage elements, where a phase difference between the output of thefirst storage element and the output of the second storage element issubstantially equal to 60°.
 12. The method of claim 11, where each ofthe three storage elements comprises a plurality of transistors.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, where with respect to each of the three storageelements, a state of the first input is stored in the storage element ata first point in time.
 14. The method of claim 13, where a state of thestorage element output at a second point in time subsequent to the firstpoint in time is equal to the state of the first input stored in thestorage element at the first point in time.
 15. The method of claim 11,where a phase difference between a third harmonic component contained inthe first storage element output and a third harmonic componentcontained in the second storage element output is substantially 180°.16. The method of claim 15, where the third harmonic component containedin the first storage element output cancels out the third harmoniccomponent contained in the second storage element output.
 17. The methodof claim 11, where the frequency divider output signal has a duty cyclesubstantially equal to 50%.
 18. The method of claim 11, where thereference input signal is a local oscillator signal.